The state of the Sun just lately signed a brand new regulation, HB 7063, aimed toward combating human trafficking. This regulation prohibits people underneath the age of 21 from working in grownup leisure institutions, equivalent to strip golf equipment and grownup cinemas. While the measure is a part of a broader effort to guard susceptible populations, it has sparked controversy and concern inside the nightlife trade.
The new regulation additionally extends the lifetime of the State Council in opposition to Human Trafficking, however one in every of its most contentious provisions is the prohibition on hiring people underneath the authorized age to eat alcohol in these institutions. Critics argue that these restrictions might infringe on First Amendment rights and lift questions concerning the regulation of labor within the grownup leisure trade.
Governor DeSantis, who championed the regulation, emphasised that its fundamental goal is to guard victims and stop sexual exploitation. However, Democratic lawmakers have expressed doubts concerning the regulation, with some fearing that it might push affected people into much less safe and poorly regulated jobs.
Despite the opposition, the laws handed with bipartisan help, together with the backing of Representative Rayner, with solely three votes in opposition to from Democratic legislators. Under the brand new regulation, employers who knowingly rent employees underneath 21 in grownup leisure institutions will face extreme felony sanctions, together with monetary fines and as much as 15 years in jail for using minors in nude performances.
The impacts of DeSantis’ anti-trafficking regulation stay to be seen, however it’s clear that it has sparked a heated debate concerning the steadiness between defending susceptible populations and regulating the grownup leisure trade.